1. there has been a gradual in people’s attitudes to the environment over the last two decades or so. a) adaptation b) shift c) variation 2. hemingway’s novel “the old man and the sea” was as a masterpiece when it was first published. a) hurled b) hailed c) hauled 3. when i was thinking of moving to a new town, i settling in the capital because the cost of living there is too high. a) wrote out b) rolled out c) ruled out 4. he is 63; he’s just up for retirement. a) coming b) getting c) turning 5. poker is played by two or ten players, using a standard of 52 cards. a) suit b) pack c) shuffle 6. i’ve been trying for some time to tell her, , to be more considerate but she just doesn’t seem to get the message. a) in a roundabout way b) way around c) own way 7. the penny farthing was the of the modern bicycle. a) precedent b) prerequisite c) precursor 8. after intensive training, basil was able to reach speeds 1 kph. a) to extremes b) in excess of c) over the top 9. arnold was so hungry that he the whole packet of biscuits down in two minutes flat. a) foxed b) wolfed c) pigged 10. my son’s academic performance has undergone a complete since he transferred to the new school. a) alteration b) change c) transformation 11. we were disappointed by the turnout at the meeting. a) bleak b) poor c) heavy 12. i can’t stand the way she’s always , i wish she’d be more positive. a) moaning b) whispering c) stuttering 13. plumbers really get up my . they are always promising to come at a certain time and nine times out of ten they don’t turn up when they’ve promised. a) anger b) fuss c) nose 14. if you carry on shouting like that, you’ll your voice. a) break b) strain c) fade away 15. the two-hour left him exhausted. a) outbreak b) checkout c) workout 16. walking a brisk pace can be a wonderful alternative the two-hour ordeal at the gym. a) in, to b) at, for c) at, to 17. noise must be to a minimum at all times. a) kept b) permitted c) forbidden 18. he’s hoping to put his feet because discipline had broken down. a) around b) up c) on 19. my eldest brother simon is a rather impulsive , he has a to act hastily. a) attitude, sense b) nature, streak c) type, tendency 20. if you take a seat, i’ll be with you a) easily b) hardly c) shortly 21. you have told me you had a dog. it frightened the life out of me when it jumped on me in the middle of the night. a) must b) could c) may 22. i can’t stand polite conversation and pretending myself. a) making, to enjoy b) to make, enjoying c) making, enjoying 23. i give you a hand with the washing-up? a) will b) shall c) would 24. -what after the course? - i’m going back to sweden. a) are you doing b) do you do c) will you do 25. it’s my new vase. you at least apologize for breaking it! a) must b) might c) may